🍳 AI Recipe: Your First AI Bot Assistant (in Just 15 Minutes)
Save time by letting AI answer FAQs for you 24/7 (no code required)
Out of office, but not out of answers. Imagine if people could get unblocked without waiting for your reply, whether you're in deep work or on vacation. This 15-minute, no-code recipe walks you through how to build your own FAQ assistant, so you can stop repeating yourself and start reclaiming your time.
Give people instant answers with a personal FAQ custom GPT, built in minutes (no code required).
Prep Time: 15-30 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ingredients:
A ChatGPT Plus subscription ($20/month)
Your FAQs or helpful docs (think: onboarding info, how to work with you, services, policies)
Instructions:
Gather your source content: If you have a blog, FAQ, or helpful documentation, export or copy that information into a file (TXT, PDF, or Markdown works great). You can use my Memory Starter template for a quick start. For this example, I exported my Squarespace website and then converted the export to a TXT file.
Open ChatGPT: Go to ChatGPT and click “Explore GPTs” in the left-hand sidebar.
Create a new GPT: Click the “Create” button in the top right.
Customize your GPT in the 'Configure' tab:
Name your GPT (e.g., “Ask Marissa’s Assistant”)
Write a short Description to explain what it does
Enter your Instructions on what you’d like it to do, like:
This assistant provides friendly, clear, and brief responses to frequently asked questions about working with the user. It helps explain the user's services, availability, working style, pricing structure, and any other important details that potential clients or collaborators may need to know. It should always be helpful, professional, and welcoming, while keeping the tone conversational and personable. When information is not explicitly available, it should offer to clarify or guide users to get in touch for specifics.Add helpful Conversation Starters (e.g., “How can I book time with Marissa?”)
Under Knowledge, upload your FAQ file or blog archive
Under Capabilities, toggle off tools you don’t need (e.g., web browsing, DALL·E)
Preview and test: Use the Preview panel on the right to test your GPT. Ask it common questions and tweak if needed.
Publish it: Click “Create” in the upper right to finish. Choose your privacy preference (Public, Only You, or Unlisted), then click Save.
Share it: Copy the link and send it to clients, collaborators, or anyone who could benefit. You can view and chat directly with my bot assistant here.
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Serving Suggestions:
Where and how to put your FAQ GPT to work:
“Out of Office” Assistant - Heading into deep work or vacation? Let your GPT answer common questions while you’re offline
Team Onboarding - Help new contractors or collaborators ramp up quickly with consistent, self-serve answers
Sales Support - Share your GPT with prospects who want to understand what you offer before booking a discovery call
Email Signature Bonus - Add the GPT link to your email signature as a virtual assistant for FAQs
Chef’s Insights: Pro Tips & Limitations
🧑🍳 Pro Tips
Here’s how to make your GPT even better:
Use a “Memory Starter” File - Upload a file with a structured format like this one to start. This acts like a primer and helps the GPT stay accurate and conversational
Write like you speak - Upload docs and FAQs in your natural tone of voice so the GPT sounds like you, not a robot
Use headers and structure - GPTs love organized content. Format your upload with clear section titles (e.g.
## Booking Info,## Services)Teach it what not to do - In your system instructions, include boundaries like:
If unsure, say so. Don’t make up information.Update it regularly - If your services or policies change, upload a new version of your FAQ file. Keep it fresh and useful.
Test it like a user - Ask the GPT real-world questions and correct misleading behavior. Example: One test GPT offered to "pass along a message" to me (which it can’t do) about booking a time. I fixed this by adding:
If someone wants to schedule a session or coaching call, the assistant should respond with: "You can book a 30-minute session during my office hours [here](insert Calendly link here)."⚠️ Limitations to Keep in Mind
While you can get up and running quickly with this bot (and it doesn’t require coding), there are some serious limitations that you should keep in mind:
No usage analytics - You won’t see who uses your GPT or what questions they ask. No logs, no insights, no alerts
Requires ChatGPT Plus - Your audience must pay $20/month to access your GPT (even if it’s public).
No fine-tuned memory - While it remembers uploaded files during the session, it doesn’t “learn” over time unless you update the source content.
User Reviews:
Have you tried building your first AI bot assistant? Share a link below so we can check yours out!